Image by sidehike via FlickrDenny Hamlin put in a dominating performance at his hometown track, Richmond International Raceway, Saturday night to win the Air Guard 400 and clinch the top spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Hamlin led six times for a race-high 251 laps (of 400), including the final 69, and held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch in the closing laps.
It was Hamlin's second win at the track; he has now won consecutive September Richmond races. It was his series-leading sixth victory of the season and the 14th of his career.
Hamlin beat Busch to the finish line by 0.537 seconds. Jimmie Johnson finished third, followed by Joey Logano and Marcos Ambrose. (Race results)
Greg Biffle clinched his spot in the Chase on Lap 48 when Jason Leffler retired to the garage. That guaranteed Biffle at least 42nd place in the race, all he would need if Ryan Newman, the 13th place driver, could win and lead the most laps. Biffle finished 32nd, five laps down.
Clint Bowyer came into the race needing to finish 28th or better to guarantee his spot in the Chase. He started fourth, led three times for 33 laps, and finished sixth.
Newman finished eleventh and never led a lap.
All in all, it was pretty uneventful for a Richmond race -- no Chase drama and only three cautions on the night. David Reutimann blew a tire and spun to bring out the first yellow on Lap 55. Terry Labonte, who failed to make the race in Friday qualifying but replaced Mike Bliss in the No. 55 Prism Motorsports car, brought out the second caution when he blew a tire and hit the wall on Lap 145. The final caution came out on Lap 226 for some light rain on the track.
The victory gives Hamlin the top seed in the Chase, putting him ten points ahead of Jimmie Johnson going into next week's race at Loudon, New Hampshire. The points are reset now with each Chaser getting 5000 points plus ten bonus points for each victory in the "regular season." This is the first time Hamlin has led the points standings in his career.
The Chase seedings:
1. Denny Hamlin 5060
2. Jimmie Johnson -10
3. Kevin Harvick -30
4. Kyle Busch -30
5. Kurt Busch -40
6. Tony Stewart -50
7. Greg Biffle -50
8. Jeff Gordon -60
9. Carl Edwards -60
10. Jeff Burton -60
11. Matt Kenseth -60
12. Clint Bowyer -60
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